A-1 Property Management

If only Unilocal allowed a zero star rating!
I recently accepted a position in Omaha so I started my search online for a rental property that was spacious, close to work, safe, and in a well kept community. The rental price wasn’t necessarily a factor because I believe you get what you pay for and therefore, I was wiling to pay the going rate for something that met all my needs.
My compensation package included relocation but did not include a pre-​visit so I could not come out and assess the area prior to my arrival. No biggie as I’ve moved twice and each time rented a property sight unseen with great results. After weeks of searching I found a property online that met all my needs and based on the pictures and verbiage in the ad, the house was in great condition and move-​in ready. The house was listed as being managed by A-​1 Property Management owned by Nancy & Al Woolley. I sent a few questions regarding the house and after exchanging a few emails, I completed an application and submitted a security deposit. This is where the story goes downhill fast!
After driving 4 days in the first mid-​west blizzard of 2012, I wasn’t prepared for what I would encounter entering the house for the very first time.
1. The place wasn’t clean.
2. Blown light bulbs weren’t replaced
3. Fridge wasn’t clean.
4. Freezer wasn’t clean or defrosted.
5. Broken window piece lying on the floor.
6. Broken Microwave
7. 70% of the walls scattered with large holes, nails, red marker, smears, etc.
8. Trash inside the house.
9. Trash debris piled in the back yard.
10. Half painted walls.
11. HVAC filter not changed.
12. Garage unswept.
13. Dirty and stained doors.
14. Dirty cabinets.
15. Dirty blinds.
16. Dirty window sills.
17. Dirty baseboards.
18. Dirty and soiled interior trim.
19. etc.
Take a look at the above list again. Shouldn’t these items be rental property management 101? Heck I could have rented a place in the hood or in a less desirable part of town and at a minimum, I would expect it to be clean!
Anyway, I immediately brought my concerns to the Woolley’s attention and instead of accepting responsibility for not accurately describing the condition of the house AND failing to prepare the house for my arrival, they chose the blame game.
1. They blamed the previous Realtor who unsuccessfully tried to sell the house.
2. They blamed the homeowners which boggles my mind considering they are being paid to maintain and manage the house.
3. They blamed me for renting a property sight unseen and for giving them 30 days to prepare for my arrival. My response to that nonsense is simply this… The house was listed as available on November 1, 2012 and I arrived December 21, 2012. Hmmm I think they were given adequate time to prepare for my arrival. What do you think?

4. I’m sure there’s someone on the Huskers team who is also partly to blame.
5. and if I had to guess, The Obama Administration probably is also partly to blame as well.
I understand renting a house sight unseen comes with a few surprises but I never expected this level of oversight. I fully expected A-​1 Property Management to perform a thorough walk through of the property, document the findings, and take all corrective actions PRIOR to my arrival. As a previous owner of several rental properties, my ultimate goal was to find and resolve the obvious issues before potential tenants. It should never be the other way around such as I’ve experienced.
With excellent credit and a sizable income, I could have rented anywhere but chose this house managed by A-​1 Property Management. What a big mistake and I am not alone. It seems I am in a long line of folks A-​1 Property Management screwed over with their carelessness, unprofessional behavior and poor customer service. Read more here.
From what I can deduce, Al Woolley is the figure head for A-​1 Property Management and Nancy Woolley sells homes for CBS homes. If you use either for the purchase, sell, or rent of a home and find yourself in the same predicament as so many others, you were WARNED!